The Norwood Cork Tree

Pages

Thursday, 21 August 2014

Dear Friends of the Norwood Cork Tree, I
am writing on behalf of the group to express our appreciation for your
contribution to the campaign to save the Norwood Cork Tree.

Thanks
to the combined efforts of the community, the cork tree will now be
incorporated in the new development of Coles in Norwood SA and preserved for
the enjoyment and education of future generations.

Monday, 18 August 2014

This
evening the revised plan for Coles Development off Edward St Norwood was
passed by the DAP.

The
revised plan preserves the cork tree and the significant river red gum near the
cork tree in the car park on the western side of Coles, near Edward St. The car
park will be retained in that area and there will be no building for around 15
metres from the trees on the eastern side.

The
underground car park will be under the building and there will be no
underground car park under the surface car park containing the cork tree and
river red gum.

The
development is described in the agenda for the 18 August meeting of the DAP,
which is a PDF file on the NPSP Council website, but the attachments showing
the plans are not published on the website.

Other
modifications to the plan have improved the frontage to Edward St and the ratio
of car parks to shops. There will be fewer retail outlets in the new plan.

The
DAP members voted unanimously to accept the revised submission from Coles
Developers and there were many comments made about the improved look of the new
plan and the desirability of retaining these two trees.

It
was reported at the meeting that the other parties to the development
application had agreed that the new proposal satisfied their objections.

Monday, 11 August 2014

I have just had confirmation
from NPSP Council that the DAP meeting of 18 August will assess the amended
application of the developers of the Coles supermarket complex.

The Development Assessment Panel meets on the third Monday of
each month at 7pm in the Mayor's Parlour, Norwood Town Hall, 175 The Parade,
Norwood. The meeting is open for the public to attend, so please come if you
are able to do so.

Monday, 28 July 2014

I have looked at the revised plan from Coles Developers lodged with NPSP Council and the plan retains part of the current car park which surrounds both the Norwood Cork Tree and the significant River Red Gum. There is an allowance of 15 metres from the trees to the new buildings further east.
This is more than the required distance to retain the Norwood Cork Tree, without disturbance of the root zone, as a larger area was required in order to not disturb the root zone around the River Red Gum.

There will be underground parking beneath the new supermarket and the shops. There will be a ramp for cars entering the underground car park from the southern end near the River Red Gum, which will be at ground level and rise towards the entrance. The area near the tree will be at ground level, so there will be no raised area near the tree.
The Council will establish requirements to avoid damage to the trees during the construction phase, which could take a year or more to complete, once commenced.
The matter is expected to go to the routine meeting of the Development Assessment Panel on 18 August 2014. DAP meetings are held in the Mayor's Parlour at the Norwood Town Hall (cnr George St and The Parade - enter via George St) at 7 - 11 pm.
We will post updates.

Sunday, 27 July 2014

I
have just been advised by NPSP Council that they have received a modified
development application by Coles Developers, which still needs to go to the DAP
for approval. This application proposes to retain both the Norwood Cork Tree
and the significant River Red Gum. I was also told that Coles would be having
less shops and less car parks in the development and the Edward St frontage has
also been modified.

This
is all official information and you can view the plans at Council in the
Norwood Town Hall, but copies of the plans will not be given out.

Sunday, 8 June 2014

Coles Developers have lodged an appeal to the ERD Court for approval of
their Development Application and the matter has been deferred to a
Conciliation Conference with a view to Coles overcoming the DAP’s reasons for
refusal of the application.

After the Conciliation Conference takes place on 3 July 2014, the amended
plans will be analysed by Council Staff, prior to a DAP hearing on the matter.
It is unlikely that this process will be finalized before the DAP meeting of 18
August 2014.

It appears that the developers wish to make modifications to their plans
that will help to overcome the objections stated by the Development Assessment
Panel when they refused the application. There were three principal objections,
roughly: insufficient allowance for parking, removal of significant and
regulated trees and finally, the frontage to Edward St.

When the new amended development plan becomes available, we will inform
you.

Tuesday, 3 June 2014

The Norwood Cork Tree remains in danger.
We have been advised that the decision of the Development Assessment Panel of the NPSP Council to refuse approval for the Coles Development Application for the site where the Norwood Cork Tree is located, has been appealed by the applicant to the ERD Court (Environment, Resources and Development Court).
No further details are as yet available.
This means the Norwood Cork Tree remains in considerable danger of destruction by the Developer.
An appeal means that the Developer is trying to get approval for their original application, which included removal of the Norwood Cork Tree and a number of other Significant and Regulated trees on the site of the Development.
If you have not yet signed our petition, and wish to support the Norwood Cork Tree, we ask you to sign it now.https://www.communityrun.org/petitions/save-the-heritage-cork-tree-in-norwood-adelaide-south-australia